"You did better that time," she remarked.
"I am exceedingly glad. It encourages me to hope that in the end I may not be such a—duffer."
She raised her eyebrows and gave just the slightest shrug of her bare shoulders.
"Whatever I should call you, Mr. Porshinger, I shouldn't call you a duffer."
"I scarcely know whether that is complimentary or not," he said.
"What do you think it is?"
"I don't think—I don't know what to think. At the best, I take it to be—negative."
"Which is safe—and exceedingly sane. You will never err by being too optimistic, Mr. Porshinger."
"So one learns in business!" he laughed.